The Shakespeare Book

112

I

n Athens, Theseus is

preparing for his wedding to

Hippolyta, the vanquished

queen of the Amazons, when in

bursts Egeus complaining that his

daughter Hermia refuses to marry

Demetrius. He says that she has

been bewitched by Lysander.

Theseus commands Hermia to

marry Demetrius. Hermia and

Lysander decide to elope and agree

to meet the next night in the forest.

Hermia confides in Helena. Helena

is in love with Demetrius. To win

Demetrius’s love, Helena tells him

of the elopement. A band of

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

artisans resolve to meet in the

forest to rehearse a play in honor of

the wedding.

In the forest, the fairy king and

queen, Oberon and Titania, quarrel

over a changeling child. Oberon

sends mischievous Puck to find

the juice of a flower which, when

placed in the eyes of a sleeper,

makes them fall in love with the

first person they see on waking.

Oberon drops the juice on Titania’s

eyes. Demetrius and Helena pursue

Hermia and Lysander into the

forest. Oberon orders Puck to drop

the juice in Demetrius’s eyes so

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Theseus The Duke of Athens,

conqueror of the Amazons.

Hippolyta The conquered

queen of the Amazons,

betrothed to Theseus.

Egeus Father of Hermia.

Hermia Short, fiery, dark-

haired daughter of Egeus,

in love with Lysander.

Lysander Romantic and in

love with Hermia.

Demetrius More hard-headed

than Lysander, but also

courting Hermia.

Helena Tall and fair-haired, in

love with Demetrius.

Oberon King of the fairies.

Titania Queen of the fairies.

Robin Goodfellow A puck

or mischievous sprite, also

known just as Puck.

Peaseblossom, Cobweb,

Mustardseed, and Mote

Fairies who tend to Titania.

Peter Quince A carpenter

who plays the Prologue.

Nick Bottom A weaver who

plays Pyramus, whose head is

transformed to that of an ass.

Francis Flute A bellows-

mender who plays Thisbe.

Tom Snout A tinker who

plays the Wall and worries that

the lion will be too scary.

Snug A joiner, who plays Lion

and is a slow learner.

Robin Starveling A tailor

who plays the Moon.

Act 1 Act 2

2.2

2.2

1.1

1.1

3.1

Annoyed with his queen

Titania, the fairy king

Oberon drops a love

potion in her eyes.

Theseus announces his

wedding to Hippolyta.

Egeus demands that his

daughter Hermia be forced

to marry Demetrius.

Hermia decides

to elope with

Lysander. Helena

tells Demetrius of

their plan.

Titania falls in

love with

ass-headed

Bottom.

Puck wrongly drops the love

potion in the eyes of

Lysander, who, on waking,

falls in love with Helena.